Whisperer (7 page)

Colt closed his
eyes and tried to steady his breathing. Amanda rolled over close by
him and traced her fingers on his lips. It had taken her a few
minutes to control her breathing as well.

“I think…” she
began smiling.

“What,
sweetheart? What do you think,” Colt smiled back at her. He cupped
her face in his hand.

“I think we
should rest up a few minutes and then try that again.”

“Why? Didn’t we
do it right the first time?” Colt rested his hand on her waist and
pulled her closer.

“You know what
they say about doing anything well. You have to practice, practice,
practice.” Her soft lips were again on his.

“Damn
straight…” And they began again.

In Naples, a
few days later, the sun was shining and the day was beginning.
Sandy and Lily were enjoying a cup of coffee out on the patio and
discussing what was planned for that day.

“It’s so lovely
here in the fall,” said Lily. “The trees are all changing color,
the temperatures are dropping a bit…you know how I love to start
wearing my sweaters.”

Sandy smiled at
his wife, “You are such a girl…” He laughed when she got that look
on her face as if to say, ‘So’? Before she could say anything, he
leaned over and kissed her. “Am I forgiven?”

“Always and
forever.” She kissed him again.

Just then they
started getting company. First Janie came out to join them. “Mom,
are you going to be able to sign that waiver for me at the
Sheriff’s Office?”

Before Lily
could answer, Joey came out with a cup of coffee, sleepily rubbing
his eyes. “Early start today, folks?”

“Joey, it’s
9:00. I would hardly call that early,” said his father.

“What’s all the
racket?” Miles came out as well, wondering where everyone had gone.
“Is the roundup starting today, Dad?”

Before Sandy
could respond, Jason Bates, his foreman, rode up. He tied his horse
to the post by the patio, got down and came over to the table.
“Looks like a party. Can anyone crash or is it exclusive?”

“Pour yourself
a cup, Jason, we need to talk about the roundup,” said Sandy. He
looked at his wife and their children. This happened a lot when you
have six kids, he thought…Good thing they weren’t all here at one
time anymore. That made for an incredibly noisy house – but very
enjoyable. He smiled through a few memories…

Jason joined
the family at the outside table and poured himself a cup. Miles
beat him to the sugar.

“Let me have
that when you’re done, Miles.”

“Sure, Jason,
here you go.”

Stirring his
coffee, Jason began, “We need a few more hands to bring in the
calves for inoculation and branding.” He looked at Miles, Joey and
Janie. “You guys up for a little excitement the next few days? We
need you.”

“Absolutely,”
Janie said. “Starting today?” She was a pretty blonde who looked a
lot like her father.

“No, we need to
get a few more things for the calf inoculation. Tomorrow’s
good.”

“I was going to
head up to see Colt,” said Miles.

“You could
delay that trip for a few days, don’t you think?” said his father.
Miles looked at Sandy and knew better than to disagree.

“Sure, Dad. No
problem.”

Joey laughed.
“Dad, you know if you need us, we’re there. But are you sure you
want Miles? Remember how he got stomped on the foot by that cow
last time trying to protect her calf? He got about a minus two on
the sensitive meter with mother cows that day.” Jason and Joey
laughed together and glanced at Miles.

“Oh, ha, bro.
Very funny. I will wager you I can brand more calves than you on
any given day.” He stuck out his hand. “Wanna bet?”

Jason exchanged
a wink with Sandy.

“You’re on.”
They shook on it. The twins didn’t look much alike - Miles was
dark, while Joey had light hair. Both had charming personalities,
but also a capacity for getting into trouble.

“What’s the
bet?” asked Jason. “How about loser mends fences with me for a
week?”

Miles and Joey
both gulped and reluctantly nodded. Sandy started laughing at their
distraught faces. Fences? Great…

“Wait a minute,
everyone. Sandy, remember your birthday is tomorrow too. I wanted
to have a birthday dinner after the branding. I need to call Colt
and Meg to see if they can make it down. Jeanne and Sam too,” said
Lily.

“Okay with
everyone? Can you all be here all day tomorrow?” Lots of nodding
heads…

Janie laughed.
“I want to see Miles and Joey working their butts off at fence
mending or calf branding. Either should be a first, so I’m bringing
my video camera.” She laughed at the distressed looks on her
brothers’ faces. They disgustedly got up and left the table. She
followed them back into the house, still giggling.

“You just had
to have twin boys, didn’t you, sweetheart? I wanted another girl
and out popped the ‘twins of trouble’.” Sandy and Lily laughed.

“I don’t
remember any particular request, as you closed in for the kill,”
purred Lily.

“Whoa --- time
for me to leave. It’s getting mushy around here, so I think I’ll
saddle up Ole Paint and head on down the trail.” Jason pushed back
from the table and headed to his horse.

“Are Amy and
the girls helping too?” Lily called after him. “How about
Jesse?”

“Yes to
everyone. We have more calves this year than last and need
everyone’s help.”

“Okay, let’s
get her done,” said Sandy.

Meanwhile at
Donner Lake, the sun was shining through the bedroom window as
Mandy yawned and stretched. She reached over for Colt, but found
his pillow instead – although it was still warm. Glancing around,
she heard water running in the shower. Early riser…what a
showoff…

Just then she
heard the neighing of a horse. In the bedroom? She looked around
and then under the bed. Where would he hide a horse? Of course, it
was the ringtone on his cell phone. She didn’t pick up, but let it
go to voicemail. Slithering down into the covers again to soak up
the warmth he had left behind – especially from last night, Mandy
smiled. And then she heard a bird call. What? A bird call?? She
looked out the window and then narrowing her eyes, looked at the
phone again. Sure enough -- another call. He seemed to be into
animal noises for his cell phone ringtones. She smiled. What a
nature boy…

The water was
still going, so she let that one go to voicemail as well. She stuck
her face into his pillow and was just starting a new fantasy about
Colt, when she was startled as she heard the bleating of a sheep.
Oh, for Pete’s sake! What’s going on here?
Three phone
calls
? Maybe there was an emergency. She sat up and wondered if
she should get this one. The water shut off in the bathroom and she
picked up the phone to take it to him. It stopped bleating. Okay, I
can still get dressed, she decided, She got out of bed and was
looking around for a shirt, when the blooming phone started going
again. This time it was music.
What was that tune
? ‘There’s
No Business Like Show Business’? He’s got to explain that one.
Mandy was just getting into one of his shirts, when Colt came
quickly out of the bathroom and grabbed his phone.

“Hello?”

“Oh, hi,
Grandma. How are you? ... Really … that time again already?
...Okay…sure. Should I?” He winked at Mandy and then leisurely
looked her over from head to toe. “I’ll ask her… Tomorrow? ... No
problem. Thanks. Love to Sam. Bye…” He clicked off his phone and
threw it on the bed. Glancing at it, he said, “Did I have another
call?”

“No, you had
three
other calls… Tell me, who’s the horse
ringtone?”

“That would be
my brother, Jesse. He’s a horseman.”

“Okay, how
about the bird call?”

“That’s Mom.
She loves the call of a loon.”

“Bleating
sheep?”

“Brother Miles.
He can be problematic.” Colt smiled.

“And the best
for last: ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business?”

“Well, you know
that’s Grandma Jeanne. She is such a movie buff that I thought it
was appropriate.”

“That’s cute
that you give them such personalized ringtones. What’s mine? Do I
have a special ringtone?” She looked up at him through her
lashes.

“Ah…” Colt
began.

“No ringtone? I
have called you, I know. I remember doing it a few times,” she
teased.

“Well,
it’s…ah…” Colt looked hesitant. She would think he’s a nincompoop.
Did he just think ‘nincompoop’? Or worse – a hopeless romantic.

“Where’d you
go? So I don’t have a ringtone?” She pouted.

“Do you know
‘If Ever I Would Leave You’?”

“From
‘
Camelot
’? Are you kidding? What a beautiful, romantic song.
That’s
my ringtone?” Tears sprang up in her eyes.

“Wow. I didn’t
expect that reaction,” Colt held out a hand to her.

“Thank you. I
love it,” she said quickly, wiping her eyes. And then to change the
subject…

“I’m also
incredibly impressed that you are so popular. I don’t think I know
four people who would bother to call me.” She plopped back in the
bed again and pulled the covers over her head. She peeked one eye
back out at him. He was smiling. “Feel sorry for poor, little,
unpopular me?” She pouted.

“You really are
cute. Good thing I haven’t found my jeans yet.” Colt slipped back
into bed and took her into his arms. “Isn’t this Friday?”

“Yes, we have
one more workday and then freedom!”

“I have a
question for you.”

“Yes…” she was
smiling. “Oh, you smell so good…” She burrowed into him.

“Would you
rather go to the kitchen for breakfast or would you rather skip it
and stay snuggled a while longer?” Colt gave her one hell of a
sexy, smoldering look.

She licked her
lips and kissed his lightly. “Absolutely no choice.” She put her
arms around his neck and pressed her lips in more urgently. “None.
We could both lose a few pounds anyway…” And so they were late for
work…

Later…

Rushing out the
door, he said, “You know, you still have my shirt on. I thought I
got it off you.”

“It’s mine now,
sweetie. I want the smell of you on me all day.”

In the car,
Colt said, “Oh, almost forgot. Jeanne said the roundup and branding
is tomorrow and our presence is required. It’s also my dad’s
birthday. It’ll be a big do and a whole lotta fun. Will you come
with me?”

She turned and
looked at him. “I’m invited?”

“That’s a big
yes. The whole family wants to meet you.” Looking at her surprised
face, he laughed. “Yes, they all know. The Johnsons have their way
with information. I think one of them must work for the NSA.
Probably Janie, but don’t worry.” He leaned over to kiss her.
“They’ll love you. I know I do.” He continued to look at her.

“Um, what did
you say? My hearing went out on me after the ‘family wants to meet
you part.’ Say that again, please?”

He took her
hands and kissed each one lovingly. “I love and adore you. Please
accompany me to the Johnson Ranch tomorrow, so I can show you
off.”

“Oh, Colt. I’ve
loved you since we glimpsed each other in that restaurant in Old
Town Sacramento. And it would be my honor to accompany you to meet
your family. I’ve been wanting to for some time now.” She leaned in
to kiss him.

And they were
later still getting to work…

During one of
her sessions that day, Mandy got a call from her distraught mother.
She left a long voicemail. Apparently, all was not well with guy #3
and she needed to talk to her daughter. Mandy could see it all: the
distance from the man, her mother’s headaches, her neediness, the
desire to smother her daughter with her problems…. Yuck…Mandy
started getting her own headache just from thinking about it. When
she was out of her session, she called her friend Stacy in
Sacramento.

“Yeah, that’s
what I thought too. What should I do, Stacy? I’m so happy here with
my job and Colt. I don’t want her within a hundred mile radius of
me. I know nothing good will come of it.”

“Got’cha. I
know what you’re saying, but you won’t be able to put her off
forever. Can you put her off until after you and Colt go to
Naples?” Stacy was worried about her friend. Mandy’s mother could
and would make a mess of things if she got half the chance.

“I’m certainly
going to try, but you know how determined she can get. Oh, Stacy.
I’m so happy with Colt. Why can’t she let me be?”

“Because she
knows you’re happy with a man and she never has been. Maybe with
your father for a while, but that’s all. You’re going to have to
stand up to her sooner or later, sweetie. Let Colt help. By the
way, when can I meet this god from Nevada?” She laughed.

“We’ll try to
get up your way soon. Maybe after the roundup.”

Stacy laughed
harder. “I can’t believe you actually said the word ‘roundup’ and
now you’re going to participate in one. You’ve turned into a real
cowgirl, Mandy.”

“I love it,
Stacy,” said Mandy.

“I know you do,
sweetie, and it is most becoming on you.” She smiled. “This guy
I’ve got to meet. Does he have any brothers?”

“Three.”

“You so owe me
for being a good friend. I want an introduction.”

“You’ve got it.
Love you, Stacy. Bye.”

“Love you too.
Bye, Bye. Have fun.”

Stacy clicked
off and sat there a minute, looking at her phone. She knew that
just when life is going really well, there’s something that comes
along and smacks you down. And she knew she should call Mandy back.
Eddy had called, looking for her. Should she burst her happy bubble
or give her a head’s up. Damn… Maybe she should wait until Amanda
got back from Naples. She deserved some happiness before dealing
with the unpleasantness that was sure to happen…